Authorities identify man shot and killed by San Jose State police

SAN JOSE -- A man who was shot and killed after reportedly charging at a San Jose State police officer while wielding a drywall saw has been identified as 38-year-old Antonio Lopez Guzman, according to the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office.

According to the San Jose Police Department, which is investigating the case because it occurred just off campus, Lopez Guzman was involved in a confrontation with SJSU officers Friday morning during which they unsuccessfully tried subdue him with a Taser him before resorting to deadly force. The officer who fired the fatal shots has been identified as Sgt. Mike Santos, a 15-year university police veteran.

The incident began with a 911 call to university police around 11 a.m. Friday reporting the sight of a man with a "large knife" on campus. Santos and another officer spotted and then trailed the man, now identified as Lopez Guzman, as he walked off campus toward Eighth and San Salvador streets before they could make contact.

Near the intersection, the officers reportedly called out to him and ordered him to drop the 12-inch saw blade he was holding. When Lopez Guzman did not comply, Santos' partner fired his Taser, but it had no effect; it was unclear whether the weapon missed or lacked the power to subdue him.

Police say Lopez Guzman then charged toward the officer with the blade raised, prompting Santos to open fire, hitting Lopez Guzman. He was taken to Valley Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The officers were not injured.

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The shooting made for a frightening and confusing scene, especially because it was next to the campus's southern border. A bullet went through the occupied second-floor bedroom of a nearby sorority house, and multiple witnesses who heard the zap of the Taser and the ensuing gunshots claim they did not hear the officers' commands to Lopez Guzman.

Anyone with information about the case can contact San Jose police at 408-277-5283 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP (7867) or with svcrimestoppers.org.